Here are a couple of facts for you to digest on Tuesday, dear reader. It's New Year's Eve and the Vegas Golden Knights are first in the Pacific Division.
I know, Jack Eichel and Mark Stone. It's hard to digest this fact, especially when it felt like the Super Bowl was here in Las Vegas yesterday. However, the Golden Knights are sitting atop the division with 53 points, six ahead of the Los Angeles Kings. Therefore, it's obvious where the Golden Knights stand in the division.
However, the Western Conference is a different story. While the Golden Knights aren't worrying about the Edmonton Oilers at the moment, they're focused on gaining the top spot in the conference. After all, Vegas loves its home cooking, with its record of 15-3-0 at T-Mobile Arena standing out.
That's why the Golden Knights must shoot for the top. That decisive home-ice advantage is the difference between being eliminated in the first round and making another Stanley Cup Final. The Golden Knights lead the NHL in home-ice capacity this season, topping out at 102.3%. That's miles ahead of the Oilers (100%), showing Las Vegas is a hockey town.
Therefore, this article won't shoot for the state of the Pacific Division. Instead, it'll focus on the Western Conference as a whole, looking at the biggest competitors. What should the Golden Knights watch for as they race to the top? Who are the biggest threats to having home-ice advantage throughout the Western Conference bracket?
The state of the Western Conference
The two top teams in the Central Division are the Winnipeg Jets (55 points) and Minnesota Wild (48 points). Both teams have focal points leading the way, with the Jets buoyed by Connor Hellebuyck (2.00 GAA, .930 save percentage, both best in the NHL) and the Wild led by Kirill Kaprizov (23 goals, tied for second in the NHL entering Tuesday). These players will be challenging for the Vegas Golden Knights to figure out, especially if they meet in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Let's take Kaprizov as a perfect example. He scored two goals on December 15 against the Golden Knights, nearly getting Minnesota two points. In fact, he's had an incredible December campaign with eight goals and four assists. Of course, Minnesota also has goaltender Filip Gustavsson (2.26 GAA, .923 save percentage). However, the Russian forward is the team's focal point.
Then there's Hellebuyck, who's heading towards winning another Vezina Trophy. The 31-year-old will provide a challenging test for Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, with his start on December 12 as a perfect example. Here, he stopped 33 of 36 shots and almost got Winnipeg two points.
The goal for the Golden Knights is taking both key players out of the equation. For the Jets, that means forcing them to make mistakes and get power play opportunities. For the Wild, it's ensuring Kaprizov doesn't take over the game. If Vegas can do this, they're on the fast track to making another deep Stanley Cup playoff run.
Don't forget the Edmonton Oilers, too
The Vegas Golden Knights shouldn't forget about the Edmonton Oilers, either. Obviously, they're in the same division, meaning they might see them in the Stanley Cup playoffs sooner than later. But this is also the defending Western Conference champions we're talking about here.
They're picking up where they left off last season, with 45 points to their name in the Western Conference. They also have those two guys named Leon Draisaitl (26 goals, best in the NHL, 55 points, second in the NHL) and Connor McDavid (52 points, fifth in the NHL). The duo alone gives the Oilers a shot in any series, regardless of who they play.
But the Golden Knights must take away both boards and constrict the Oilers in the neutral zone. That strategy worked on December 3rd at T-Mobile Arena, where Adin Hill stopped all 28 shots for the 1-0 shutout. If they meet up in the playoffs, expect Bruce Cassidy to wear down his opponents through clogging lanes.
Currently, the Golden Knights are in a good state regarding the Western Conference. They're competing for the top spot, shooting for home-ice advantage until the Stanley Cup Final minimum. If they can continue their hot streak and stay healthy, fans can expect another all-night party in June, complete with a story rivaling that of The Hangover.